My research interests are in the field of ethnic prejudice and
interethnic relations. In particular, I study the link between prejudice and social networks. Thus, how do prejudices develop within social networks, how do they spread through an existing social network, and how do they affect changes in the structure of social networks?
Though many of my projects are on “basic science,” I’m driven by the
potential societal impact of my research. That’s why a large part of
my attention is directed at using my insights to develop
intervention programs for (primary) schools that are designed to
improve interethnic relations. At the moment, I cooperate with
practitioners of the programs Discussieren Kun Je Leren, Welkom in Mijn Wijk, and One Globe Kids.

Additionally, I am interested in methodological research. Together with
Jon Krosnick, I have developed a new graphical interface (GENSI) to collect
data on ego-centered social networks in online surveys. I’m also involved in a large scale replication or classical survey design experiment in 15 countries. In September 2017, I co-organized a 3-day conference on measuring implicit bias funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

My research is funded by the European Commission (Marie Curie
International Outgoing Fellowship, June 2012 – June 2015) and the
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO Veni grant,
June 2015 – June 2019).

November, 2018: Research Grant awarded
The Anti-Corruption Evidence Programme, funded by DFID and managed by
Global Integrity, has decided to fund the research program
"Addressing Bribery and Favouritism in the Tanzanian Health Sector:
a behavioural approach". Together with Claudia Baez Camargo (PI),
Antonio Silva (Co-I), and Richard Sambaiga(Co-I), I (Co-I) will
implement a network intervention program to reduce corruption in the
health sector in Tanzania.

November, 2018: Roundtable refugee educational programs
I have been invited to give expert advise during a roundtable meeting
with various organization that provide educational programs for
refugees or that educated about refugees. The meeting was organized
by Stay Human and the Hummanity House.

November, 2018: Research presented
I presented research on networks and extended contact at the EASP
small group meeting "Introducing Structure: Networks in Social
Psychology" in Brussels, Belgium.

November, 2018: Workshop taught
Together with Tibor Zingora, I gave a
workshop on longitudinal social network analysis (SIENA) at the EASP
small group meeting "Introducing Structure: Networks in Social
Psychology" in Brussels, Belgium.

December, 2017: Interview in media
The Dutch RTL news featured an interview with me on their website.

November, 2017: TEACHER OF THE YEAR
The students of the program "Interdisciplinary Social Science" at
Utrecht University elected me teacher of the year
(docenttalent). I feel very honored with this award.

November, 2017: Dissemnation activity
I will give an invited lecture at the concert hall Tivoli Vredenburg
(Utrecht) as part of the Requiem Waarheen leidt de weg?

July, 2017: Research presented
I presented a paper, co-authored with Henning Silber, Jon Krosnick,
and Annelies Bloom at ESRA, the bi-annual meeting of
the European Survey Research Association in Lisbon, Portugal.

July, 2017: Research presented
I presented a paper at EASP, the general meeting of
the Euorpean Association of Social Psychology in Granada, Spain.

June, 2017: Invited talk
I gave a talk titled "A social network perspective on intergroup contact theory" at Social Science Research Colloquium, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

May, 2017: Research presented
I presented a paper, co-authored with Henning Silber, Jon Krosnick,
and Annelies Bloom at AAPOR, the American Association for Public
Opinion Research in New Orleans, USA.

June, 2016: Teaching certificate
After completing a seven-month teacher training and compiling a teaching
portfolio, I received the certificate for Dutch university teachers from Utrecht University, Netherlands.

June, 2016: Research presented
I presented a paper, co-authored with Macel Coenders at the "dag van de sociologie", the annual meeting of
the Dutch Sociological Association at Tilburg University, Netherlands.

June, 2016: Dissemnation activity
I co-organized the symposium "Perspektief op diversiteit" for academic
and non-academic professionals at the European Research Centre on
Migration and Ethnic Relations at Utrecht University, Netherlands.

July 25, 2014: VENI research grant awarded
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) awarded me
a VENI reserach grant (250,000 Euro) for my proposal "Interethnic Attitudes and Social Influence within Social Networks: Towards an Intervention Program for Ethnically Segregated Schools."

July 25, 2014: Conference participation
I presented the manuscript "A new survey tool for ego-centered networks"
co-authored with Jon A. Krosnick at the VI European Congress of Methodology.

May 15, 2014: Cconference participation
I presented the manuscript "A new survey tool for ego-centered networks"
co-authored with Jon A. Krosnick at the
69th Annual Conference of the American Association for Public
Opinion Research.

March 16, 2014: Paper accepted for conference presentation
In July 2014, I will present the manuscript "A new survey tool for ego-centered networks"
co-authored with Jon A. Krosnick at the VI European Congress of Methodology.

February 28, 2014: Paper accepted for publication
The manuscript "Changing Levels of Racial Prejudice and Changing Impacts of Attitudes toward Blacks on Approval of Barack Obama's Job Performance and on Voting Intentions, 2008-2012" by Josh
Pasek, Tobias Stark, Trevor Tompson, & Jon A. Krosnick has been
accepted for publication in Public Opinion Quarterly.

February 15th, 2014: Conference participation
I presented the manuscript "Measuring Anti-Black Racism in the U.S."
co-authored by Josh Pasek, Trevor Tompson, & Jon A. Krosnick at the
15th annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social
Psychology at Austin, Tx. I co-chaired the symposium "Racism:
Theories, measurements, and consequences"
(with Jon Krosnick) at which Patricia Devine, Jack
Dovidio, and David Sears presented their current research.

January 29, 2014: Paper accepted for conference presentation
In August 2014, I will present the manuscript "Understanding the Selection Bias" at the
Annual Conference of the American Sociological Association.

January 22, 2014: Paper accepted for conference presentation
In May 2014, I will present the manuscript "A new survey tool for ego-centered networks"
co-authored with Jon A. Krosnick at the
69th Annual Conference of the American Association for Public
Opinion Research.

August 11th, 2013: Conference participation
I presented the manuscript "How do interventions promote intergroup friendships even among prejudiced people if they avoid the outgroup?" at the
Annual Conference of the American Sociological Association.

May 18th, 2013: Conference participation
I presented the manuscript "Measuring Anti-Black Racism in the U.S."
co-authored by Josh Pasek, Trevor Tompson, & Jon A. Krosnick at the
68th Annual Conference of the American Association for Public
Opinion Research.

Spring, 2013: TV interview rediscovered
I finally found this video of a TV
interview (in Dutch) on my PhD thesis on
YouTube. The interview was taped in September 2011.

October 16th, 2012: Research Prize for Dissertation
The Erasmus Prize Foundation awarded a Research Prize for my dissertation "Integration in Schools. A Process Perspective on Students’ Interethnic Attitudes and Interpersonal Relationships".
The prize is valued at 3,000 Euro in recognition of an exceptional PhD dissertation in the humanities and social sciences.

June 15th, 2012: Project started
For the next two years, I will be working as a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University as part of my Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship.

Please see the "contact" tab for my new email address and visitor address.

March, 2012: Fellowship awarded
I have been granted a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship by
the European Commission. The grant is valued at 263,660.70 Euros
and funds two years of research at Stanford University and one year at
Utrecht University. Together with Prof. Maykel Verkuyten
and Prof. Jon Krosnick, I will examine how the structure of social
networks affects racial prejudice.

February 7th, 2012: Research results presented
I was invited to present results of my research to a group of 60 social workers who work with ethnically diverse groups of (school) children. This mini conference was organized by stichting PAS in Arnhem, the Netherlands.

January 4th, 2012: Preprint appeared
Preprint of article "The Double Edge of Common Interest: Ethnic Segregation as an Unintended Byproduct of Opinion
Homophily" appeared in Sociology of Education.

September 8th, 2011: "CUM LAUDE" awarded for dissertation and defense
I was awarded the distinction "cum laude" for both my dissertation and the defense thereof. "Cum laude" is the highest
honor in the Netherlands and only given to the top 5 to 7 percent of all dissertations.